Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Highliner Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2022 Rated 90VM

VinoUS Media Review
Rated 90
The 2022 Pinot Noir Highliner is a bigger, riper style for Hitching Post, opening outward with layers of red cherry liqueur, pipe tobacco and vanilla. It's a broad-shouldered wine that exalts oak spice and fruit richness more than complexity. Drinking Window 2025-2029.

Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir 2022

Hartley Ostini Hitching Post "SIDEWAYS" 20th Anniversary Highliner Pinot Noir 2022 is a limited-edition bottling celebrating the iconic wine film that put Santa Barbara Pinot on the map. Sourced from top vineyard sites in Santa Barbara County, this 2022 vintage showcases the bold, balanced style that made Highliner famous - now with a collectible twist honoring Sideways. Rich, expressive, and true to place, it's a must-have for Pinot lovers and film fans alike.

Key Features

• Type: Red Wine
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Region: Santa Barbara County, California
• Special Edition: Release
• Winery: Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Wines
• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): Approx. 14.1%
• Production: Small-lot, estate-grown and sourced from select vineyards

Tasting Notes

• Aroma: Dark cherry, cranberry, rose petal, and toasted spice.
• Palate: Silky and layered with ripe red fruit, cola, forest floor, and savory oak.
• Finish: Long, smooth, and balanced with firm acidity and fine tannins.
• Body: Medium-bodied with structure and finesse.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve slightly cool at 55-60°F in a Burgundy glass.
• Pairs beautifully with grilled salmon, duck breast, mushroom dishes, or Santa Maria tri-tip.
• Great for fans of Sideways, collectors, and lovers of serious Santa Barbara Pinot Noir.

Hitching Post's 20th Anniversary SIDEWAYS Highliner is more than a wine - it's a toast to a cultural icon, crafted with precision and rooted in Santa Barbara's Pinot legacy.